Bought a Pre-Played copy...

The problem is, since Gal Civ can run without a CD, there's no way that Stardock can confirm that the previous player isn't still happily playing away. I understand that it isn't particularly fair on you, but Stardock do not support second hand games.

If I were you, I'd try returning the game to wherever you got it from. They should never have sold it to you. With any luck, you can get your money back. Then go and buy the real thing, since £20 (or whatever the equivilant is in your local currency) isn't really that much to pay for a new game.

I had the same problem, but since I bought the game on ebay, I had the email of the sellers.

And what a nice person, he changed his account to my adress saying he was sorry to forgot...

I was so happy.

So I have a collector edition box, like new, that cost me only 40$ canadian, shipping included... that's nice. (the retail prices of collector edition is 49.99$+15% tax (here)).

:

The other day, I saw a copy of GalCiv II on the pre-played shelf of my local EB Games.

That was your mistake.... just take it back and request to replace it with a new copy where you pay the difference.

you may also be able to get them to give you a straight across exchange.

Unfort., selling GalCiv2 used is a violation of the license agreement:

Link

-HM

Just click on the 'Everything' forum link and check out the topic about 'Used copies of GalCiv2'. That'll answer your questions and take care of your problem.

Unfort., selling GalCiv2 used is a violation of the license agreement:

Does not hold up in England, where I live, several big software companies tried to stop retailers selling second hand games out or renting them out. It failed miserably, the courts, the law of the land, decieded that games could be rented and sold second hand.

I suspect more games companies may copy stardock's system of copy protection with patch updates to try and destroy the second hand games market and rental market. It is another method of software protection, lets not fool ourselves.

I think its unfair that some people who own the original game do not get full access to the updates.

It is not unfair.

You retailer is selling something which, even although second hand, should still be fit for purpose.
It was their responsibility to check that everything needed to be able to install and play the game - as originally intended - was included. This would include the previous owner having unregistered his copy or supplying the necessary information to allow it to be re-registered in your name.
Either that or they should have stated clearly any limitation on the second hand copy and left it up to you to decide if you were willing to accept those limitation.

So, whether it is technically against the license agreement, and whether or not the license agreement is valid and enforceable are completely irrelevant. There are methods of transferring licenses - all Stardock are doing is trying to protect their investment, they are not a charity.

They are also protecting your investment by not wearing out your CD and giving you incredible flexibility in being able to play the game on any number of machines you like. And dont laugh about wearing out the CD, my Civ IV DVD went wonky on me within a month - I managed to find an old DVD drive in an old machine that could still read it and swap them - messy.

So go back to your retailer and get a trade or your money back.

there's no way that Stardock can confirm that the previous player isn't still happily playing away. I understand that it isn't particularly fair on you, but Stardock do not support second hand games.

They can tell he is playing it though, through the downloads. Of course, if he's playing it, they know and stop the key being repeated.

Does not hold up in England, where I live, several big software companies tried to stop retailers selling second hand games out or renting them out. It failed miserably, the courts, the law of the land, decieded that games could be rented and sold second hand.

Doesn't matter at all what our laws are. The updates are free extras. If you bought the game second hand (or first hand for that matter) the dev's have no obligation to do anything, and have said that they won't. If you buy it second hand, on your own head be it.

You know some of these issues could have been avoided if Stardock would have put a warning label on the front of the box. Something like WARNING: FOR ANTI-PIRACY WE ONLY SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER WITH UPDATES.

That should prevent people from buying used games or at least not asking to get updates because they have already been told they bought the game as is.

Use the following link Link

And Stardock let you upgrade to 1.0x. You aren't getting newer though, the liscence is to the computer owner NOT the game holder. Since it's free, you don't have consumer rights for upgrades.

They can tell he is playing it though, through the downloads. Of course, if he's playing it, they know and stop the key being repeated

No, they only know if he has downloaded the latest patches or played on the Metaverse. He could keep playing v1.11 for ever in Sandbox/Campaign.

Marcathonas, if you go to the retail page you should be able to download the retail V1.1. V1.0x is no longer available.

No, they only know if he has downloaded the latest patches or played on the Metaverse. He could keep playing v1.11 for ever in Sandbox/Campaign.

That's what I meant by "through the downloads"

Oni, that link was for people who don't have a valid key.

You know some of these issues could have been avoided if Stardock would have put a warning label on the front of the box. Something like WARNING: FOR ANTI-PIRACY WE ONLY SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER WITH UPDATES.

I agree with this.

It should be noted a second hand games buyer is NOT a pirate. Indeed the original, 'Drengin', er.... buyer is the pirate, if he knowingly sold his GC 2, with the intention of copying it and continuing to play it, get updates with the serial number. Certain 'Drengins' would do this, for sure.

Also retailers r going to lose out, what do they do with those returned GC 2's where the serial number can not be used for updates? When a retailer has a bad experience with a game/developer (ie...lots of returns), they r often cautious about new releases from that publisher or stocking more GC 2's for sale, especially small retailers.

Someone should suggest printing a warning label on the front of the box so it can't be removed to Frogboy. It's too late for the stuff already out there but all the games that go out in the future should have one. If people start seeing the warning on new games maybe they'll think twice about buying used ones.